Cinematograph machine



I. SUTHERLAND.

CINEMATOGRAPH MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I4, 1920A 1,426,614 Patented Aug. 22, 1922.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

l. SUTHERLAND.

CINEMATOGRAPH MACHINE.

APPUCAHGN FILED MAYN. |920.

Patetvd Aug. 22, 1922.

I. SHEETS-SHEET Z.

NETE@ FICE - CINEMAToGaArH MACHINE Speicicaton of Letters Patent. i Batented Aug. 22, 1922.

Application led May 14, 1920. Serial No. 381,429.

(GRANTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS 0F THE .ACT 0F MARCH 3, 1921, 41 STAT. L., 1313.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that IsAAc SUTHERLAND, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of NormanhurstCollins Place, Melbourne, in the State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, press artist, has invented certain new' and useful Improvements Relatin to Cinematograph Machines, of which the fllowing is a specification (an application for the same invention having been filed in the Australian Commonwealth on May 3, 1919).

The present invention refers to the cinematographic projection of pictures and has been devised to provide a novel arrangement of the feed of the positive film whereby a series of pictures may be repeated indefinitely without the necessity for stopping the apparatus and rewinding and restoring the ilm to its original position as is the case at present.

The object of the invention is achieved by an arrangement in which the ends of the coiled film are connected for continuous progression of the lm through the usual gate of the machine. This can be carried out in a practical manner by coiling portion of the ilm on an axially apertured reel, passing the outer and inner ends over suitable guiding devices and through the gate and connecting Athe ends together, means being provided for causing continuous travel of the endless film so formed.

According to the preferred arrangement the inner winding of the film coil is drawn out from the axial aperture of the reel and fed through the gate and thence returned to rewind on the outer coil of the reel. It will be evident however, that by reversing this arrangement the outer winding of the coil may lead to the gate in which case the film enters the centre of the reel to be rewound thereon.

Iig. 7 an enlarged detail of portion of the ree In these figures 1 designates a stand formed with a central circular opening 2 about the edge of which project laterally short spindles 3 upon which are loosely the ring of rollers are two thin circular flanges-or plates 4, 5 set the width `ofthe' film apart and formed centrally with a circ ular opening the inner edges of which frictionallyengage respectively annular grooves 6 formed near each end of each roller which latter thus supports the plates. loosely rotatable on the rollers but plate 4 1s fixed to a ring shaped sprocket 7 driven by a chain 8 passing around a sprocket 9 on an extension of the shaft 10 that drives the usual sprocket llwhich feeds the film F to the gate 12.

The ring of rollers R together with the circular flange plates 4, 5 practically constitutes a reel for the film coil and rotation of the sprocket 7 causes the flanges by friction to rotate the rollers and thus assists the winding of lm coil on the reel. The inner coil passes between two of the rollers as illustrated and thence around a lilm sprocket 13 centrally arranged within the reel upon a transverse shaft 14 mounted in standards 15, 16 a guide roller 17 mounted on a spindle 18 being used in conjunction with said sprocket 13.

The inner coil proceeds with a helical twist through the central opening of the stand 1 as illustrated and backwardly b etween a sprocket 19 and roller 20 mounted respectively on the shafts 14 and 18 said shaft 14 having a sprocket 21 at one end driven by a chain 22 and sprocket 23 on the usual shaft 10 of the cinematograph machine.

The film after passing between sprocket 19 and roller 2O travels upwardly over a flanged roller 24 then forwardly over a similar roller 25, over the usual sprocket ll'and thence to the gate 12 when it returns preferably over suitable `guide rollers to coil on the outer periphery of the reel. During this latter return part of itsy travel the film is preferably positively fed and suitably guid- Plate 5 is i ed and as illustrated the film after leaving the gate is fed over roller 26, 27 in contact with the' teeth on the underside of the sprocket 11 which is made for this purpose of greater diameter than is usual. The film `then passes back over a tapered flanged roll- 33 projecting from the frame 34 and to the end of said spindle is fixed a sprocket 35 driven by chain 36 from a sprocket 37 of shaft 10. This latter shaft is coupled to an electric motor (not illustrated) for continuous rotation and means are preferably pro.

20.. vided for opening the circuit'of such motor,

should a break occur in the film.

Accordingto one practical means the film is so arranged that the portion 38 between the sprocket 31 and the reel is always taut and said portion is adapted to support a flanged roller 39 mounted at one end of a lever or contact maker 40 mounted on a spindle 41 with its other end bearing down upon a contact spring 42' adapted to contact with an arm 43. Said spring and arm are arranged in the circuit of the motor and thus while the portion 38 of the film is taut the roller 39 is held up and consequently the lower end of lever 40 is depressed on the contact spring to complete the circuit but instantly slackness of the portion 38 of the film occurs, the roller 39 drops and breaks contact of the spring thus stopping the mot'or and minimizing damage to' the film.

In order tol prevent slackness of the film coil on the reel the outer coil of the film is pressed inwardly by weight or spring means 0r the like. As illustrated a spring 44 is adapted to bear against the exterior coil or a weighted roller 47 is supported on the exterior coil said roller being mounted on an arm 48,l the shank portion 48 of which is bevelled on its side edges and adapted to slide freely in a dovetail groove 45 formed vertically inthe stand 1 said shank being secured if desired by a clamp screw 46.

The film is kept in contact with` the sprocket l1 by means of two rollers 50, 51 as usual and rollers 26, 32 and 50 are respectively'mounted on the ends of spring controlled pivoted arms 52, 53, 54 to facilitate adjustment of the film to the sprockets 11 and 31 and rollers 17 and 20 may if desired be similarly mounted.

It will be evident by the foregoing de- .scription that by continuously rotating shaft 10 of the cinematograph machine C film F unwinds from the inner coil of the reel and passes between two rollers R, being drawn by sprocket 13 then passes helcally out to one side `of the reel where it is positively fed forward by sprocket 19 to the main sprocket 11 of the cinematograph machine and through the gate. The film continues over suitable rollers that bring it in line with the reel and a final sprocket 31 feeds it back to be rewound on the periphery of the coil on the reel.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is 1. In a motion picture machine, using a film as picture carrier, the combination of a plurality of rollers in circular arrangement on which the coiled film is supported, a ring in frictional contact with allof said rollers and adapted to turn the same and means for rotating the ring.

2. In a motion picture machine, using a film as picture carrier, the combination of a plurality of rollers in circular arrangement on which the coiled film is supported, a ring frictionally supported bv all of said rollers, and adapted to rotate all of them through frictional contact and means for positively driving said ring.

3. In a motion picture machine, using a film" as picture carrier, the combination of a plurality of rollers on which the coiled film is supported and having their' axes uniformly spaced on a circle, and a positively driven device contacting all of said rollers and adapted to rotate said rollers about their axes.

4. In a motion picture machine, using a film as picture carrier, the combination of a plurality of rollers having their axes fixedly located on the circumference of a circle on which they are evenly spaced, the coiled film being carried by said rollers, and posi-tively driven means supported by said rollers exclusively for frictionally actuating the individual rollers.

5. In a motion picture machine using -a film as picture carrier, the combination of the plurality of rollers having their axes fixedly located on the circumference of a circle, the coiled film being carried by said rollers, each of the rollers having` a circular groove, a positively driven ring engaged in all of said grooves adapted to frictionally rotate all of said rollers.

6. In a motion picture machine using a film as picture carrier, a film reel comprising a plurality of rollers arranged in a circ e, adapted to form the body of the reel, and a pair of reel flanges frictionally supported on and held against lateral displacement by said rollers.

7. In a motion picture machine, a film reel comprising a plurality of circularly spaced rollers, each having circular grooves near its ends, and a pair of annular flanges frictionally seated in Said grooves.

8. In a motion picture machine, a film reel comprising a plurality of circularly spaced rollers, each having circular grooves near its ends, and a pair of annular flanges frictionally ,seated in said' grooves, one of said flanges being associated with a sprocket and chain on the surface directed away from vsaid rollers. i

9. In a motion picture machine, a vertical standard having a plurality of pins ri idly mounted thereon and projecting there rom,

Asaid pins being circularly arranged on said standard, anti-friction rollers loosely earried on each of said pins, a pair of anges infrictional contact with each of said rollers and surrounding the entire set of rollers, a sprocket chain mounted on one of said anges and means for driving *saidl sprocket chain the other .flange being in loose rictional contact with the rollers.'

10. In a motion (picture machine, the combination of a standard, a plurality of rollers in "circular arrangement movably supported by said standard, rictional driving means 1n engagementvwith all of said rollers and surrounding the same, a. friction roller centrally supported with respect to said set of first named rollers, means for frictionally driving said `set of first named rollers, and a guiding roller in a plane parallel to the plane of the said first named rollers. Dated this 12th-day of March, 1920.

' ISAAC SUTHERLAND. 

